Game apparatus

ABSTRACT

Game apparatus, especially for miniature golf. A flexible blanket is draped over one or several mounds to simulate a putting green. Provision is made for cups, completely contained in the putting green blanket in one embodiment, for insertion of the cups in underlying mounds in another. The blanket, mounds and cups can be quickly assembled on a table, or other suitable support and provision is made to grade the edges of the blanket to prevent resting of the ball along rails which contain the game. The blanket may also have a putting fringe surrounding the putting greens. By shifting these mounds, miniature versions of typical greens of of any particular green can be formed. The mounds can also be made higher or lower.

United States Patent Casey 1451 Mar. 18, 1975 GAME APPARATUS 3,578,3215/1971 Skully 273/176 FB x [76] Inventor: William Casey, 3204 ColonyClub 3,591,176 7/1971 R6111 273/176 F x Rd., Pompano Beach, Fla. 32506FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 22 Filed: June 8 1973 273,888 7/1927Great Britain 273/34 A 21 Appl. NO.Z 368,138 OTHER PUBLICATIONS [63]Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 112,169, Feb. 3, 1971, abandoned,Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 881,553, Dec. 2, 1969, abandoned, whichis a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 826,807, May 22, 1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 273/87 R, 273/176 H, 273/178 A,

[51] Int. Cl. A63f 7/06 [58] Field of Search 273/87, 87.2, 87.4, 176 R,

273/176 B, l76 E, 176 1 ,176 H, 34 A,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,533,417 4/1925 Holland273/87.2

1,582,237 4/1926 Angell 273/87 C X 1,625,265 4/1927 Malloy.... 273/8721,903,133 3/1933 Polak 273/874 2,014,993 9/1935 Stayton 273/87.4

3,038,726 6/1962 Hesidence 273/176 F 3,138,387 6/1964 Michel et al.273/87 C X 3,323,802 6/1967 Riner 273/176 E Related US. Application DataB. Altman and Co. Advertisement in the Wall Street Journel," Mar. 9,1961, page 2.

Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harry G.Strappello Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Nolte and Nolte [57] ABSTRACT Gameapparatus, especially for miniature golf. A flexible blanket is drapedover one or several mounds to simulate a putting green. Provision ismade for cups, completely contained in the putting green blanket in oneembodiment, for insertion of the cups in underly ing mounds in another.The blanket, mounds and cups can be quickly assembled on a table, orother suitable support and provision is made to grade the edges of theblanket to prevent resting of the ball along rails which contain thegame. The blanket may also have a putting fringe surrounding the puttinggreens. By shifting these mounds, miniature versions of typical greensof of any particular green can be formed. The mounds can also be madehigher or lower.

7 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures GAME APPARATUS This is acontinuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.112,169, filed Feb. 3, 1971 now abandoned, itself a continuation-in-partof Ser. No. 881,553, filed Dec. 2, 1969, now abandoned, which was acontinuation-in-part of US. Pat. application, Ser. No. 826,807, filedMay 22, 1969 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND AND NATURE OF THE INVENTION This invention provides aminiature golf putting game for developing putting skill by aiding theplayer to develop experience in analyzing profiles and puttingcharacteristics of various types of greens.

Miniature putting courses and replicas thereof, as used at present,having limited numbers of profiles and ground arrangements. Thereforethey hardly prepare the player for the great variety of conditionsactually encountered on different golf courses. The present inventionhas the object to provide a wider range of experience, while utilizingequipment of the utmost simplicity, which can be provided with limitedcost. It is a further object to provide a game which can be utilizedoutdoors as well as indoors, and to provide game equipment of differentdimensions and arrangements.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a golf game which iseconomical to manufacture and readily assembled and disassembled for useon existing table or board structures and one in which unique cup andflag structures permit continuous play through 18 holes of golf withoutthe necessity of removing a flag for a score.

The golf game of the invention provides the players with an infinitevariety of courses over which to play by permitting both horizontal andvertical variation of course undulations.

Edge resting of the ball is prevented by providing rail structures forgrading along the sides of the simulated course.

In The Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferredembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 1A is a fragmentary view taken along lines 1A 1A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of similar embodiment, showingparts thereof in different positlons',

FIG. 3 is a complete plan view of an element partly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is an end view of the same element, taken along lines 3A 3A inFIG. 3;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show variations of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6-8 show further variations of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are vertical sections through a second, third andfourth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a partial plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a section along lines 14 14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view ofa detail from FIG. 13, with parts brokenoff;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of a modification of theinvention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a cup, flag and ball in score position;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS:

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 3A: Table 10 comprises a flat rectangulartop or board supported by legs 11 and providing a support area for ablanket removable deposited thereon. The blanket has. a smooth innerportion 12 and a rougher outer portion 13, simulating respectively thesurface of a putting green and putting fringe. Fringe 13 is shownthicker than green 12, to impart strength to the blanket. The entireblanket and mainly the putting green portion 12 thereof can be made ofrubber or of other flexible material which is elastically stretchable toadapt itself to underlying obstacles or mounds. One of these is shown inFIG. 3 and has holes 32 for cups, as is also shown in FIG. 2. Puttingand fringe areas l2, l3 advantageously have green top surfaces, whichcan be fabricated from any of the various available synthetic grass-typesubstances.

Special putting cues 21,21, 21" are provided comprising a shaft and ahead having a flat ball striking surface in a plane normal to the axisof the shaft to minimize spinning for a realistic putt.

In order to fit holes 32 in a mound 25, FIG. 3, blanket 16 has holes 15at corresponding positions, FIG. 1. The latter holes, if desired, can besomewhate smaller than holes 32, and their edges can be secured to cup17, as shown in FIG. 2. As best shown in FIG. 1A, the diameter of thecup is approximately the same as that of hole 15. As also shown in thelatter figure, the cups need not extend into mounds, but can extenddirectly into table top 10. The table may have a slightly over-sizedhole 18 to accomodate the cup, regardless of slight irregularities orstretch in blanket '16. As also shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the blanket issurrounded by an edge or rail 14 of table 10. This provision aids inpreventing the golf ball 20 from rolling off the game surface. Theraised formation of fringe 13 has the same effect.

As indicated by FIGS. 4 and 5, a great variety of mound formations canbe formed. They can be produced very simply by cementing boards to oneanother (FIG. 3A). This thickness and arrangement preferably is suchthat blanket 16, extending over the edges of'the combined mound boards,presents a substantially smooth surface. The outlines of the mounds, asindicated by FIGS. 4 to 8 at 26 to 30, can be chosen at will. They can,for example, use a replica of the exact out line of mounds or puttingcup areas existing on actual golf courses.

While FIG. 1 shows blanket 16 on table 10, this blanket can also bedeposited on other supports and, for example, on the floor of a room,the surface of a driveway or garden, or an actual golf course ground. Onthe other hand, modified table surface structures can be used. One ofthese is shown in FIG. 9. As illustrated here, table 10 has a combined,table-covering mound structure 16' overlying it. Blanket 12 in turnoverlies this mound unit. The structure has recesses 14', coincidentwith cup holes 15 in the blanket. A relatively thick fringe portion 13'is provided around the edges 'of the blanket.

Another modification is shown in FIG. 10, where table has two parallel,cylindrical rollers 40, rotatably mounted on opposite sides thereof. Acontinuous putting green blanket 12", with underlying mound structure16", having recesses 19", is positioned around the rollers in the mannerof a conveyor belt. Supporting plate 41, for example of wood is securedto the table, below the upper strand of belt 16", so as to preventsagging of the putting green. In this case, the exposed putting greensurface can be changed, for example, by manually shifting the exposedsurface thereof and thereby rotating rollers 40.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show another variant using table 10". A blanket 16" witha grass-like covering 19" thereon, is secured to the table in somewhatloose condition. A plurality of rotatable rods 54 having cams 52, extendacross the table and can be rotated, for example by handles 53, tomodify the exposed contour of the simulation green.

Still another modification is shown by FIG. 13 to 15 wherein a tablesupports a putting green blanket 16-4 with mounds -4 thereunder and cups17-4 therein. Each cup has a switch 54 secured thereto and arranged sothat, when golf ball 20 falls into the cup it actuates a feeler 55 ofthe switch and thereby operates an electrical counter 56. This counterin turn actuates a mechanism 57 for issuing golf balls that have reachedthe cups and fallen into a collecting chute 58, having suitableconnections 59 in the various cups. In this way it becomes possible toissue new golf balls at and only at the time when a predetermined numberof golf balls, such as a multiple of nine as in a golf game, havereached the putting cups, provided by the game apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, the golf game of the invention takes theform of an assembly of parts adapted. for placement upon a table tennistable 100. Here, it should be appreciated that such an assembly may besized for available stock; e.g. 4X8 plywood boards which can be mountedon carpenters horses and the like.

In any event, the golf course of FIG. 16 comprises a blanket 101fabricated of a flexible foam material such as polyurethene cut to fitwithin a 2 inch by 2 inch frame 102 measuring on the outside 9 ft. by 5ft., the measurement of the regulation table tennis table 100.

The thickness of the blanket 101 is approximately I A inch for obviousreasons, but preferably such that the diameter of the ball B, B" withwhich the game is played, is accommodated, in this respect, the balldiameter can be larger than the thickness of the blanket so long as ascore can be made by dropping the ball in the holes, which in thisinstance comprise nine cups 105 substantially of a height equal to thethickness, of the blanket 101 which is provided with apertures 101 cutto contain the cups 105 along their sides.

Mounds, 106 through 111 of various peripheral configuration are part ofthe assembly and are shaped as a kidney 106, and elbow, 107substantially circular 108 or oval Ill and variously irregular 110, allas previously shown in the figures already referenced.

With reference, for example to mound 111, each mound may consist of oneor more widths of variously shaped layers 111a, b, c, d and e eachsucceeding upper layer being smaller than the layer upon which it rests.

These layers may be bonded together or may freely lie, one upon theother so that the players may make the game easier or harder bysubtracting or adding layers to the mound. In this modification of theinvention, the mounds are placed between the holes and are not providedwith holes to receive cups as in the previous embodiments described,although a combination of mounds 25-30 and blanket 101 may, of course,be provided with the mounds having bonded or non-bonded layers.

While the layers may be made of any material. such as wood, orcardboard, it has also been found desirable to use layers cut frompolyurethene approximately 5 1 inch thick. The flexibility of suchmounds beneath the weight of the blanket lends subtlety to theundulations of the upper surface of the blanket.

The cups sit within the blanket as shown in FIG. 17, and should, becauseof the proximity of a mound, the blanket in the area of the cup belifted above the table, suitable further support elements may beprovided to assure stability beneath the cup; for instance discs 210(FIG. 21) the approximate size of the cup bottom may be provided.However, it has been found most satisfactory to make the blanketaperture 101 smaller than the largest circumference of the sides of thecup 105 as shown in FIG. 17 to provide a tight fit for this purpose.

Flags numbered l-9 on the left hand side of FIG. 16 are provided withstands S which are dimensioned, again with reference to FIG. 17, so thatwhen the ball enters the cup it will displace the flag and stand to aposition off center of the cup. This feature permits the players to playcontinuously without the necessity for lifting the flag from the cupwhen scoring. 7

Flags numbered 1-9 may be numbered respectively on the opposite sidewith numbers 10-18 as shown on the right hand side of FIG. 16 so thatwhen a player is facing longitudinally of the game at one end thereof hewill see holes numbered 1-9 and when standing at the other side lookinglongitudinally of the game will see numbers 10-18.

The frame 102 consists, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 16, of two endpieces and two pairs of side pieces, shown fully only on the left handside of the frame depicted in FIG. 16. These frame pieces are buckledtogether as shown for example at B, the point being that they may bedisassembled and deposited in a box along with the balls, putters P,P,and blanket which may be conveniently rolled.

The golf cue putters P,P, as in the instance depicted in FIG. 1, haveputting surfaces lying in planes normal to the axes of the puttershafts.

FIGS. 18 and 19 disclose a modification of the rails used to surroundthe blanket. In this instance, rails 202 are extruded from a suitablethermoplastic, such as nylon (although metal could be used, extruded orturned) and provides an inner lip 202 extending inwardly from the baseof the extrusion, to thereby grade the edges of the blanket upwardly.This prevents the ball from resting along the inside of the rails at thecorners of the rails 202. Corner pieces 203 may be provided with inserts203 sized to fit within the extruded rail ends and to hold the same inposition. The inner ends of side rails 204 (not shown), made inaccordance with this embodiment, may provide for bridging inner holdingelements similar to elements 203 or may be shaped for overlapping snaplock action or may be provide any other convenient fit-holdconstruction.

Thus in the embodiment last described, a game which can be quicklyassembled and disassembled and which is economical to manufacture hasbeen described. Furthermore an infinite variety of course undulationsare also provided by the fact that the mounds are movable horizontallyand may be made as high or as low as the players desire.

Varients gftlle assembly of parts will now occur to those skilled in theart. For instance the flag posts and cup bottoms may be integral withthe post hinged for bending upon a score as opposed to having thedescribed flag base slide along the cup bottom.

Furthermore, the mounds 106 111, when comprised of unbonded layers mayhave the layers turned relative to one another depicted by layers 111aand 1110 in FIG. 20. Nor need the layers of any set 116 111 have to beused in its similarly shaped set but may be used in combination withlayers of other sets. In this last respect, when using unbonded layersof polyurethene, a layer of one size overlying a smaller layer willdrape over the bottom layer, again lending subtlety to the blanketundulations.

Furthermore, the discs 210 may also be used as mound layers variouslydisposed (210a) to provide any variety of blanket surface undulation'imaginable.

Also, a long length of blanket with a single target hole and cup may beprovided along with mound elements for disposition on the floor forrealistic stand-up putting with a regular putter, the player standingoff to the side of the blanket.

In any event, the appended claims define the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Golf game apparatus comprising a table defining a generallyhorizontal playing area surface spaced vertically from a surface onwhich said table is supported, flexible blanket means freely laying onand being removable from said playing area surface and for simulating agolf playing area on the upper surface of said blanket, said blanketmeans having a plurality of holes therein each constituting means fordefining a target hole into which a ball can be propelled, said blanketmeans being otherwise continuous, flexible means defining at least onemound for insertion beneath said blanket means and constituting meansfor flexing said blanket means generally only in the areas thereaboveunder the weight of said blanket means, said last mentioned meansconstituting a plurality of flexible layer means for disposition oneupon the other and being freely movable between said blanket means andsaid playing area surface for variably changing the contour of the uppersurface of said blanket means; and a putting cue comprising a shaft anda head the head having a flat ball striking surface lying in a planenormal to the axis of the shaft, whereby said cue is constituted as ballstriking means for use by a player standing on the surface supportingsaid table.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, additionally including, a pluralityof cups each for disposition in a corresponding one of said plurality ofholes, the height of said cup and the thickness of said blanket meansbeing substantially similar.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said hole in said blanket issmaller than the largest circumference of said cup whereby said blanketconstitutes means for restraining said cups against movement.

4. A golf game comprising a ball and putting cue and an assembly ofparts for disposition upon a flat surface of predetermined peripheraldimensions spaced from ground level at substantially table height andcomprising a frame, mounds and a flexible blanket:

a. said frame comprising means for containing said game within the innerperiphery thereof and within the peripheral dimension of the flatsurface, said frame means having a predetermined height;

b. said mounds comprising flexible layer means freely movablehorizontally upon the surface and stackable one upon the other fordisposition beneath the blanket, for changing the upper contour thereofat will;

c. said putting cue comprising a. shaft and a head having a flat ballstriking surface lying in a plane normal to the axis of the shaftwhereby said cue is constituted as ball striking means for use by aplayer standing adjacent the flat surface upon which said assembly ofparts is disposed.

(1. said blanket comprising means for filling the area within said frameand being of a predetermined height lower than the height of said frame,and further constituting means for lying upon the surface and forflexing over said mounds, the flexibility of said blanket overlying saidmounds producing suitable variations in the contour thereof, saidblanket having a plurality of apertures therein, said blanket in thearea of said apertures being of a thickness such that said aperturesconstitute means for receiving said ball.

5. The golf game of claim 4 in which the assembly of parts furthercomprises cups and flags:

a. said cups being dimensioned for substantially closely fitting in theapertures of said blanket and having a height substantially equal to thethickness of said blanket and a circumference larger than the diameterof said ball;

b. each said flag comprising a base and a pole portion, said base beingsmaller than the bottom of a cup and comprising means for slidingappreciably along the bottom of a cup when struck by a ball entering thecup;

c. said flag pole portion and base and said ball being dimensioned forfitting within the confines of said cup with said flag in the stand-upposition.

6. The golf game assembly of chain 4 wherein said frame furthercomprises a horizontal leg extending inwardly from the inner peripherythereof said leg constituting means for lifting the edges of saidblanket for preventing the resting of said ball along the innerperiphery of said frame.

7. The golf apparatus of claim 4 wherein said layer means areperipherally irregular.

1. Golf game apparatus comprising a table defining a generallyhorizontal playing area surface spaced vertically from a surface onwhich said table is supported, flexible blanket means freely laying onand being removable from said playing area surface and for simulating agolf playing area on the upper surface of said blanket, said blanketmeans having a plurality of holes therein each constituting means fordefining a target hole into which a ball can be propelled, said blanketmeans being otherwise continuous, flexible means defining at least onemound for insertion beneath said blanket means and constituting meansfor flexing said blanket means generally only in the areas thereaboveunder the weight of said blanket means, said last mentioned meansconstituting a plurality of flexible layer means for disposition oneupon the other and being freely movable between said blanket means andsaid playing area surface for variably changing the contour of the uppersurface of said blanket means; and a putting cue comprising a shaft anda head the head having a flat ball striking surface lying in a planenormal to the axis of the shaft, whereby said cue is constituted as ballstriking means for use by a player standing on the surface supportingsaid table.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, additionally including, aplurality of cups each for disposition in a corresponding one of saidplurality of holes, the height of said cup and the thickness of saidblanket means being substantially similar.
 3. Apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein said hole in said blanket is smaller than the largestcircumference of said cup whereby said blanket constitutes means forrestraining said cups against movement.
 4. A golf game comprising a balland putting cue and an assembly of parts for disposition upon a flatsurface of predetermined peripheral dimensions spaced from ground levelat substantially table height and comprising a frame, mounds and aflexible blanket: a. said frame comprising means for containing saidgame within the inner periphery thereof and within the peripheraldimension of the flat surface, said frame means having a predeterminedheight; b. said mounds comprising flexible layer means freely movablehorizontally upon the surface and stackable one upon the other fordisposition beneath the blanket, for changing the upper contour thereofat will; c. said putting cue comprising a shaft and a head having a flatball striking surface lying in a plane normal to the axis of the shaftwhereby said cue is constituted as ball striking means for use by aplayer standing adjacent the flat surface upon which said assembly ofparts is disposed. d. said blanket comprising means for filling the areawithin said frame and being of a predetermined height lower than theheight of said frame, and further constituting means for lying upon thesurface and for flexing over said mounds, the flexibility of saidblanket overlying said mounds producing suitable variations in thecontour thereof, said blanket having a plurality of apertures therein,said blanket in the area of said apertures being of a thickness suchthat said Apertures constitute means for receiving said ball.
 5. Thegolf game of claim 4 in which the assembly of parts further comprisescups and flags: a. said cups being dimensioned for substantially closelyfitting in the apertures of said blanket and having a heightsubstantially equal to the thickness of said blanket and a circumferencelarger than the diameter of said ball; b. each said flag comprising abase and a pole portion, said base being smaller than the bottom of acup and comprising means for sliding appreciably along the bottom of acup when struck by a ball entering the cup; c. said flag pole portionand base and said ball being dimensioned for fitting within the confinesof said cup with said flag in the stand-up position.
 6. The golf gameassembly of chain 4 wherein said frame further comprises a horizontalleg extending inwardly from the inner periphery thereof said legconstituting means for lifting the edges of said blanket for preventingthe resting of said ball along the inner periphery of said frame.
 7. Thegolf apparatus of claim 4 wherein said layer means are peripherallyirregular.